Loading attachment for reciprocating conveyers



April 19, 1932.

R. A. WALTER LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR REGIPROCATING CONVEYERS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 22, 1926 INVENTOR RA VMOND A. W me ATTORNEY LOADING ATTACHMENT FO R REC IPROCATING CONVEYERS Filed June 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R E n Q m Q A D Mm M Y MYS B 7 (\IJQ Q N on 1 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1932 RAYMOND A. WALTER, OF NEW YGEK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIG'BE, T0

GOODMAN MANUFACTURIKQ CQMPANZ, .GHICAGO, ILLIHQI S, A COBPOBATEGN 0F ILLENOES Application. filed. Eune 22,

This invention relates in general to a loading attachment for a conveyer and more par ticularly to a loading attachment adapted to operatein conjunction with a reciprocating conveyer.

Heretofore in the art the methods of loading material on reciprocating conveyershaving especial reference to mineral products of a granular or blocky nature have been of a manual sort necessitating undue expenditure for superfluous labor. Such methods have further proved generally ineiiicient and unsatisfactory for numerous other reasons for in many instances the cavity from which the material is obtained is of such a nature that it is impractical for a number of laborers or even one to Work under proper conditions.

It is an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a reciprocating conveyer that will supplant manual loading and materially facilitate the handling of mineral products.

Another object of this invention is to provide a loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor adapted to operate in conjunction with the conveyor mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a loading attachment for a reciproeating conveyer provided with a mechanism adapted to feed the loader mechanically into the material adapted to be conveyed.

A further object ofv this invention is to provide a loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyer adapted to operate in a minimum amount of space.

This invention consists in general of a fixed section of conveyer trough having one end fixed to a reciprocating conveyor, the other end being provided with a flared portion, allgwing lateral movement, to which there is adapted to be connected, by a hinged bolt, the main body of the loading attachment-comprising a bottom swinging flanged conveyor trough engaglngan inner extensible -ged trough, and having reinforcingsc tween the flanges. A shoveling head 18 se cured to theqend of the inner rextensihle trough, and bolted to the bottom trough is an:

a feeding mechanism comprising a frame have;

ing mounted thereon a plurality of adjust 1926. Serial Ho. 117,829.

able eccentric clamps engaging the flanges of the inner trough and adapted to be operated by levers having a unitaryhandle. With these and other objects in view which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in theparts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention, may be varied in construction,proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have "been made the subject of illustration;

In the drawings forming a part of this specification device forming the subject matter of this invention; r

Fig. 2 is a side elevation plan view of the loading attachment showing the shoveling head in perspective;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation sectional view of the feeding device shown in engagement with the main body of the loading attachment.

, Fig. 4 is a front elevation sectional view showing the connector element for supplementary inner trough units;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation sectional view showing the connector elements for the inner extensible trough;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation sectional view showing the method of connecting supplementary'inner trough units;

' feeding mechanism.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, in

Figures 1 aud t the -ea" end of a reciprocatmg conveyor is-design to which there is'ad *to reciprccatekin r L ted the numeral 1 secured, so as therewith, a

loading attaehnien swiveling device p inentand a bottom 2 till adjacent section by fiat headed sloi.

13, an extending mechanism 4, better shown in Figures 3 and 7, and an inner extensible trough 5 having secured thereto a shoveling head 6, adapted to engage the material to be conveyed.

The swiveling device 2 comprises a fixed section of conveyor trough '1 connected by fastenings 8 to the end of the conveyer l by bolts 9. The trough 8 is flared at the end 10 to permit lateral movement of the loading attachment as shown by the dotted lines 1L One end of. a. short trough section 13 is pivoted on the end of the flared section 7 by a bolt- 12 and the other end fixed to the end of the bottom swinging trough 3 and held by bolts Pl positioned in ears formed on straps attached to the adjacent ends of the troughs 13 and 3. A reinforcing plate 16 is riveted to the bottom of the short sect-ion 13 adapted to strengthen the pivotal joint hetween the flared section 2 and the section 13. it is manitest that the sections '2' and 13 may he fixed in the conveyer at the point shown or interposed between two conveyor sections it lateral movement is desired from a point further back.

The main laody of the loading attachmentcomprises ahottozn swinging trough 3 and an upper or inner extensible trough 5 movable longitudinally V with respect to the bottom swinging trough, reinforced at the by strip i? and made up in sections nested Within the trough 3. The inner trongl': may be extended by adding additional sections which sections are designed to be connected by a plate 18 hy rivets 19 an connect to the locked by wedges 21.

A shoveling head 6 is secured by rivets or any other suitable means to the end inner trough section 5 and having; a hea feraloly circular and serrated, it havin fennel that a flat head with or wil '2 a serrated edge will not function in a 5% ner'in that there is a tendenc ward rather than under the material to he shoveled. l have found that when the edge is formed as the are of a circle with smooth or serrated edge dependent on the material to be handled, the results are very satisfactory. Althoughthis type of design has been found to be most efiicient it is manifefi that any desired form which operates to force the shovel head under the pile may he used.

An extending adjustment l illustrated in greater detail in Figures 3 and 7 is secured to the bottom trough 3 comprising a framework 22 mounted on skids 23. Mounted on the framework 22 are adjustable eccentric clamps 24 operated by levers 25 having a unitary handle 26. The adjustable eccentric clamps 24 are hinged on pins 27 and are adjusted by adjusting screws 28 adapted to rotate in lugs 29. The levers 25 also hinge on pins 27 and reassess ing attachment to reciprocate, this attachment being supported for reciprocating motion by members having contact vrith the floor or ground surface and by the shoveling head 6. If it is desired to extend or retract the shoveling head. 6 the operator first perinits his hand to travel back and forth with the lever 25 until the rhythm of the conveyer stroke has been acquired. ll hen it is desired to advance the shoveling head into the material to be loaded the motion oi the conveyer is anticipated, and the lever moved away from the material slightly in advance of the same motion of the conveyer. This action causes the release of: the clamps 2% thereby permits hotioin trough 3 to slide out from raider the trough the trmsgh 5 t ing head ll extended. the nest strol toward material the operator pushes the handle forward causing the. clamps compress and so permit the shoveling head clamped on the bottom trough to be washed further into the rial, this at n may he repeated until tile desired ext-en. on is reached.

flaring o ined the desired depth of insertion the operator i'nerely holds the handle forward time keeping the troughs clamped together and thus by the normal action of the conveyer, the material is carried away. The shiveling head 6 is Withdrawn by reversing the operation previously described, that is, tilting the hen die 25 backward on the stroke toward the material, thus causing the clamps to loosen and tightening them on the withdrawing stroke. In the event that it is desired to extend the shoveling head 6 by advancing a greater distance than the length of a section of trough 5 allow-vs, this may be done by inserting an additional s =tion or sections secured by means the splice plates 18.

If the shoveling head. meets with an obstac-le during the operation of the conveyor, the trough 5 is adapted to slide back Within the trough 3 against the pressure exerted by the clamps and thus prevent damage to the loadingdevice or to the conveyer.

There is accomplished by this, invention a loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor operating in conjunction therewith adapted to supplant manual loading and so constructed as to provide means tor extendd ll ing the loader to any degree necessary by cooperation with the conveyor in and operating in a of 1 am.

While 1 have shown and descri ed the proiorred embodiment of my invention, 1 wish it to he understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction heroin set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may he made therein, loy those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reciprocating loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor, operahlo loy the conveyor and adjusta ly extensible or retractahlo with "respect thereto by relative movement therebetween during operation.

2. A loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor, comprising :a trough, and means forming a part of the conveyor fixed to the trough, longitudinally adjustable in either direction with respect thereto to extend or retract the conveyor during operation. J

A loading attachment for .a reciprocating conveyor comprising a pivoted trough section, and means detachahly connected to the trough, and movable respect thereto, to load material. d. A loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor comprising a flared trough section, a trough section pivoted to the iiared trough section, and means associated with the pivoted trough to load material.

' 5. loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor, comprising a trough, means to change the position of the trough in either direction longitudinally with respect to the conveyor during oporation: and means fixed to the trough to load material.

'6. A loading attachment "for .a reciprocating conveyor, comprising an unattached trough, movable with respect to the conveyor, nested the end ofthe conveyor, and capable of longitudinal movement either direction with respect thereto operation, and means fixed to the trough to load material.

7.. A loading attacont for a reciprocating conveyor, comprising a sectional trough allowing lateral movement, :andnnattached means secured to the trough, capable of lone movemon-tin either direction with respect to the conveyor (during operation, to load material.

8. A loading attachment for a reciprocatin-g conveyor, comprising a flanged bottom trough, a flanged inner sectional extensihlo trough adapted to reciprocate in conjunction with the conveyor, a reinforcing strap hotwoen said and means socured to the inner tr out to load eating conveyor, emhodying a reciprocating extensihle trough, means to extend the trough while in motion, comprising a feeding mechacarried on the conveyor independent of external support.

it. In a loading attachment embodying an extensible trough, a feeding mechanism com prising .a frame and eccentric clamps provided with levers mounted on the frame, the eccentric clamps being adapted to engage the trough.

11. in a loading attachment embodying anextensible flanged trough, a feeding mocharism comprising a frame provided with bottom skids and adjustable eccentric clamps provided with operating levers mounted on the frame, the eccentric clamps being adapted to engage the flanges of the trough.

inner %ctiohal extensible trough, adapted to rcciprocato in conjuncti on with the conveyor,

a reinforcement strip between said flanges and means secured to the inner trough to load material.

15. ln combination with a reciprocating conveyor, a loading attachment comprising an extensible flanged trough, a feeding mechanism having a frame provided with bottom skids, and eccentric clamps mounted on the frame having operating levers adapted to engage the flanges of the trough.

16. A reciprocating conveyor comprising a loading attachment having a shovel in frictional engagement with the conveyor, and

.moans to allow slippageof the shovel if an obstacle is encountered in loading.

17.. A method of extending or retracting a reciprocating conveyor, comprising clamping a supplementary trough within a conveyor trough, releasing the clamp pressure on the .ha'cl: stroke of the conveyor to extend the supplementary trough restoring the clamp pres; sure on the trough, and releasing the clamp pressure of the forward stroke of the con- 'veyor to retract the supplementary trough.

1 8. A loading attachmentfor a reciprocating conveyor comprising a bottom trough, an

inner unattached trough adapted to reciprocute in conjunction therewith, having means provided on the end for loading material the inner trough heing capable of longitudinal of the conveyor during operation to extend or retract the loading means.

19. A loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor comprising a bottom trough capable of movement about a pivot in a longitudinal plane, an inner unattached trough in the bottom trough adapted to reciprocate in conjunction therewith, means to allow relative movementbetween the bottom and inner troughs during operation to extend or retract the conveyor and means fixed to the end of the inner trough for loading material.

20. A method of extending or retracting at will a reciprocating conveyor, comprising nesting a movable trough within a conveyor trough, holding them in fixed relation by frictional engagement, and releasing the triotional engagement on the backward or the forward stroke of the conveyor to extend or to retract the nested trough.

21. A. method of extending or retracting a reciprocating conveyor comprising clamping a supplementary trough to a conveyor trough and releasing the clamp pressure on the supplementary trough on the backward or forward stroke of the conveyor to extend or retract the supplementary trough.

22. A method of extending or retracting a reciprocating conveyor comprising clamping a supplementary trough in a conveyor trough and releasing the clamping pressure on the backward or forward stroke or the conveyor so that the conveyor trough may retract or extend with respect to the supplementary trough by reason of its inertia so as to extend or retract the conveyor by clamping the supplementary trough thereto when the conveyor has been retracted or extended with respect thereto.

23. A loading attachment comprising a reciprocating conveyor trough, a supplementary trough normally carried in frictional engagement therewith and means to vary the length of the conveyor trough by releasing the frictional engagement with the supplementary trough whereby the conveyor trough may be retracted orextended with respect to the supplementary trough and frictionally re-engaged therewith to extend or retract the conveyor trough.

24. A method of changing the length of a reciprocating conveyor comprising binding a supplemental unattached trough in a conveyer trough and releasing the supplemental trough so that the same by reason of its inertia "will remain stationary respect to the reciprocating conveyor, and rebinding the supplemental trough to the conveyor trough in a difiorent relative relation to extend or retract the conveyor.

25. A loading attachment for a reciprocating conveyor comprising a reciprocating conveyor trough and a supplemental trough securable therein, adapted to be released so that the same by reason of its inertia is allowed to remain stationary with respect to the reciprocating conveyor and be rosecurod in a different relative relation to extend or retract the conveyor.

26. The combination with a longitudinally extended articulated reciprocatory conveyor of a foeder'therefor, secured thereto and adapted to reciprocate in unison therewith comprising a longitudinally extensible pickup member in communication with the end of the conveyor.

27. The combination with a longitudinally extended articulated reciprocatory conveyor or a feeder therefor, comprising a longitudinally extensible pick-up member in communication with the end of the conveyor, comprising a trough secured to the conveyor anda second trough longitudinally movable in relation to the first trough.

28. A conveyor feeding member comprising a plurality of nested troughs, means for impartingtosai'd troughs a conveying reciprocation, means for extending the terminal or upper trough member in relation to the trough member adjacent thereto, the

terminal member being provided at its end .and means for holding said nested trough members against relative longitudinal movement in relation to each other.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

RAYMOND A. WALTER. 

